Taiyuan, capital of North China's Shanxi province, achieved remarkable progress in sustainable development by balancing economic development and environmental protection during the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-20). 

The city coordinated the management of mountains, forests, farmlands, lakes, grasslands, and sandy areas, with a natural reserve system supported by five forest parks established.

The ecological restoration of six mining areas in the city was implemented, and a total of 10 pilot projects for comprehensive treatment of the geological environment in coal mining subsidence areas were carried out, with eight completed and two awaiting acceptance by provincial authorities.

The city promoted 40 major national ecological restoration projects, among which 19 were completed and 21 are expected to finish by the end of 2021.

Over the past five years, Taiyuan planted 1,253.4 square kilometers of trees, and the forest coverage rate increased from 19 percent in 2016 to 25 percent in 2020.

It also implemented afforestation and greening projects, rewards and subsidies for restoring farmland to forest, employment for forest management and protection, and efficiency improvement of cash forests in the local counties of Yangqu and Loufan, helping the poverty-stricken counties increase revenue by 100 million yuan ($15.51 million).